I noticed that it looked darker and warmer in the tube, but when applied, it’s more muted (at least, compared to the color of the tube itself!). Enjouee delivered full color coverage, which applied evenly, but I did notice that it had a more noticeable sheen–almost looking a bit frosty. The texture seemed a little drier compared to Coromandel, which was the first shade I tested of the newly reformulated Rouge Allures. I wore this shade for six hours, and my lips felt slightly dehydrated. Not chapped or cracked but the lipstick could have been more hydrating with its longer-lasting formula. So while it hits it out of the park for having rich color payoff and long-wear, as promised, it misses on the hydration.

Chanel Coco Noir Eau de Parfum ($98.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is a recently released scent that was supposed to mark the return to Oriental fragrances for Chanel. It has notes of grapefruit, bergamot, orange, rose, jasmine, geranium, patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood, and white musk.

Coco Noir spends most of the time smelling like sweet berries and patchouli. From beginning to end, a lot of the other notes are barely detectable; if I wasn’t specifically looking for them, I don’t think I’d have caught on that they were, in fact, supposed to be there. Initially, there’s a hint of grapefruit–a little zest–but it fades too quickly. In the first hour or so, the rose and jasmine notes peek through. They linger but disappear beneath a haze of sweetened berries, patchouli, and a hint of musk. On me, there’s some soapiness after four or five hours.

It wears close to the skin on me with two spritzes (one on each wrist), and the fragrance wears noticeably for around six hours and is mostly gone by eight hours. It’s a blend of sweetness and light, berries and patchouli, that never gets too sweet but never reads noir. (It is a bit like how I felt about Tom Ford’s Jardin Noir collection.) The scent is incredibly well-blended, and on the whole, a wearable, easygoing fragrance that many will love, but if you were looking for something particularly interesting, innovative, or noir, you may not be so keen on this scent. Coco Noir is soft, lightly warmed up–like a light jacket for the first days of autumn.

The new Rouge Allure formula is supposed to have “concentrated, ultra thin pigments” for full color coverage with a satin finish and “lasting comfort.” The latter from “special hydrating agents” that “leave lips supple and protected.” Coromandel is richly pigmented with full color coverage that is finished with a natural, satiny sheen. It applies evenly without effort, and the color slides on easily, though the formula isn’t so creamy that it feels or looks heavy applied. The color sits comfortably on the lips.

Truthfully, I didn’t notice any difference between the new formula and the original. I feel like saying, “It seemed a little creamier…” is pulling at straws; the effect of knowing that they’re different but not feeling that difference. It’s not a bad thing, as the original formula was quite good. This particular shade wore for six hours and was lightly hydrating during that time period.

Chanel’s Rouge Allure packaging is head-to-toe luxury; it has a black lacquered metal exterior case that closes with a satisfying click. Inside, it’s a gold metal tube with Chanel imprinted on the side of the lipstick itself.

Inside Chanel: The Legend of No. 5

A series of original short films 2 to 4 minutes long recount the events and people who influenced the destiny of Coco Chanel and forged the legend. This journey, full of images and historical evidence, takes you to the origins and to the heart of the creations of CHANEL, a luxury brand recognized the world over.

The saga begins with the legend of N°5. CHANEL opens in an unprecedented way its archives to capture the essence of this iconic fragrance, from its genesis to its muses, who have embodied the perfume since it was first created. — www.inside-chanel.com

Intrigue is very comfortable to wear, because the consistency isn’t too thick or too thin, so it feels lightweight on lips but still has a cushion-y feel. The texture is non-sticky as well. This shade wore for four hours on me with semi-opaque color coverage, minimal settling into lip lines, and even color overall. It has a delightfully high-shine finish that gives lips an illusion of fullness.

The formula is described as “non-drying” and “matte” with “intensely rich colour.” It’s been awhile since I’ve worn a shade from this range, because after trying a few, these just didn’t work on my lips, as they were incredibly drying and caused my lips to bleed after continuous usage. I wore L’Impatiente last week, and it wore well for about five and a half hours, and then tolerably for another three hours. After eight hours, a lot of the color had flaked away and it was a bit uneven looking overall. I still found this rather drying, though it did not seem quite as drying as some of the original shades I have tried in the past.

I know some readers really love this formula, so it may still be worth trying for yourself to see how your lips react. This shade isn’t as pigmented as the other shades in the range. It wears for several hours, and it glided on without pulling or tugging before it settles into a semi-matte finish.